Deep-well-pump lubrication



May 20, 1924.

V. SCHLEYER DEEP WELL PUMP LURICATION Filed Feb. 16 1923 Patented May 20,1924.

UNITED 'rATEs PATENT OFFICE.

VICTQB SCHLEYER, 0F ANDERSON, INDIANA. ASSIGNOR T0 MIDWEST ENGINE COR- IPORA'IION, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA,A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE.

DEEP-wELL-BUMP LUBnIcATIofN.

Application med February 16, 1923. serial No. 619,347.

T0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, VICTOR SCHLEYER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Anderson, in the `county of Madison and' State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Deep-VVelI-Pump Lubrication, of which the following is a specification. 4It is the object of my invention to provide aneffective lubricating system for deep-well pumps; and to minimize the loss of lubricant, especially when oilI is used as a lubricant, and to make it possible to change the lubricant simply and readily whenever desired; and to provide a balanced-pressure system in which the pressure developed by the main pump is used to build up a balancing pressure in the lubricating system, and to do this while permitting the lubricating system to be a circulating system which when the pump is operated may use a lubricant other than Water without material contamina-tion from the water being pumped by the main pump. The accompanying drawing illustrates my invention: y

Fig. 1 is a vertical central section through a deep-well pump embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is an enlargement of part of the lower portion of lj`ig. 1, with the lubricant'- pump, toshow some details; and Fig. 3 is a detail enlargement of the check-valve of Figs. 1 and 2, which check-valve admits water from the Well to produce the balancf ing pressure in the lubricating system.

The main pump 9, shown as a singlestage pump -though that is not essential, has its rotor mounted on the lower end of a vertical shaft 11 suitably driven from the top. and the rotation of the rotor 10 draws water intothe inlet 12 of the pump casing and discharges it vertically upward through a suitable discharge pipe 13. The stationary part 14 of the pump 9 may have the usual vaues 15 for preventing the whirling of the water, and the usual main bearing 16 above the rotor 10. Further, the vertical shaft 11 is surrounded by a pipe 17. within which may be suitable intermediate and top bearings 18 and 19. The parts'so far described may be of any desired construction. and in themselves are not new.

.lust above the main pump 9 I provide a lubricant-pump 20, which has a small rotor 21 on the shaft 11. Just above the rotor 21 I provide a bearing 22 for the shaft 11, while below such rotor 21 and between' it and the mainbearing 16 I preferably Vprovide a carefully packed bearing 23 for the shaft 11. The lubricant-pump receives its supply from above, through the pipe 17 and past the bearing 22, and the rotor 21 discharges outwardly into a space 24 in the lubricant-pump 20, which space 24 is connected to a discharge pipe 25 which leads upward, usually outside of the casing 13.

At the top of the "casing 13, and preferably directly over it, is a closed reservoir 30, having a valved drain-pipe 31 near the bottom and a valved overflow-pipe 32 near the top. The u per end of the casing 17 is supplied with iquid through a pipe 33. which may receive its supply either from a source of water under pressure, such as a city main, when a valve 34 is open, or from the reservoir through va filter 35 and outlet pipe 36 which communicates with the reservoir 30 near the top thereof, the pipe 36 having a valve 37 so that by the manipulation of thevalves 34 and 37 either water from the city main or liquid from the reservoir 30 may be supplied to the pipe 17. An open supply-tank 38, preferably higher than the closed reservoir 30, gives a supply of the lubricant, usually oil, which is to be used for lubricating the deep-well pump while it is in operation. A small pilot pump 39 is driven from the shaft 11,.

by a belt 40 and suitable pulleys, being Y shown as having-its inlet 41 on the bottom and its outlet 42 on the top. The inlet 41 may be connected to the lower part of the supplytank 38, by opening a valve 43, and the outlet 42 connected to the closed reservoir 30 through a control valve 44 and a checkvalve 45; so that when the valves 43 and 44 are open, the pilot pump 39 pumps liquid fro-m the supply-tank 38, and discharges it into the closed reservoir 30. The inlet 41 may also be connected through a valve 46 to the upper end of the discharge pipe 25 from the lubricant-pump 20; and the discharge 42 of the pilot pump may be connected through a valve 47 to discharge through a filling pipe 48 into the supply tank 3S.

Below the valve 46, the .pipe 25 has. two

side branches, one through a spill-cock 49, to discharge liquid when desired, and the other through a valve 50 and check-valve 51to the closed reservoir 30. Below the valves 49 `and 50 and the branch pipes leading thereto, the pi e 25 may if desired-have a valve 52; but t is is rarely closed, and may be omitted, The closed reservoir 30 is suitably connected to a pressure gage 53,l which indicates the accumulated pressure in said reservoir. By opening the valves 46 and 47, and closing the valves 43, 44, 49, and 50, the liquid forced upward through the pipe 25 may be sent on bythe pilot pum 39 into the supply-tank 38. y

When rst starting the deep-well pump, the valves 34, 52, and 50 are opened, and water from the city main is allowed toflow into the pipe 17, to fill it and the pipe 25, and, if desired, the closed reservoir 30. The

valve 32 is usually open at this time until,

it overows to indicate that the system is full, though if desired the overflow may be either by the valved drain-pipe 31 -or the spill-cock 49. With the system full, the

Y deep-well pump is started into operation.

The lubricant-pump 20 circulates the liquid in the lubricating system.

The valve 34 is now closed, to shut 0E the supply from the city main,l and the valves 37 43, and 44 are opened; at the same time, the spill-cock 49 is opened. 'As now the deep-well pump operates, the pilot pump 39 forces the operating lubricant, such as oil, fromV the suply-tank 38 and' past the check valve 45 into the closed reservoir 30,

whence it flows through the filter 35 and valve 37 into the filler ipe 33 and thence into the pipe 17 in whicli the vertical shaft 11 is located. This lubricant forces the water ahead of it, and out through the spillcock 49.

the spill-cock 49 is closed, and the valve 50' is opened if it^was closed, so that the pipe 25 will discharge the oil into the closed reservoir 30. One or both of the valves 43 and 44 may now be closed, and, if desired, the pilot pump 39 may be thrown out of action.

The lubricant system is now filled withv theoperating lubricant, obtainedfrom the supply-tank 38, and circulates it from the reservoir 30 to the upper end of the' pipe 17, down through such pipe to lubricate the various bearings 19, 18, and' 22, thence through the lubricant-pump 20, which produces the circulating force, and thence up by the pi'pe 25 and through the valves 52 and 50 back into the closed reservoir 30.

When the deep-well pump is to -be shut asegure down, just before the shut-down, the liquiddisplacement process is reversed, and the oil in the lubricant system is re laced by water. This. is because the loss in ubricant occurs mainly while the pump is at rest, for during such times the oil if left in the lubricant system will force its way by gravity past the bearings intothe water in the discharge pipe 13; so that when an oil-lubricated pumpis started after a shut-down it has frequently been found that,the pump is empty of lubricant. Y

To prevent this loss, .and save the lubricant, l open the valves 34, 46, vand47, and close the valves 37, 43, 44, and preferably' 50,l and start the pilot been stopped, shortly be ore shutting down the deep-well pump. The water from the city main now forces the oil out of the pipe 17, the lubricant-pump 20, and the pipe 25, andthe pilot pump 39 takes the oil from the pipe 25 and lifts it back into the supply-tank 38, The operating lubricant is thus saved lfor use when the pump is again started. 1While the pump is shut down, the valves 34,

. 37 52, and 42 are 'preferably all closed, to help hold the liquidl in the lubricant system while the pump is at rest.

The lubricant system is thus a circulating system with a downward llowthrough the pipe 1 and an upward iow through thc pipe 2.5. These are inhydrostatic balance. In addition to their balance between themselves, I alsoA prefer to balance them against the ressure developed by the main pump 9 at the outlet thereof, 4to prevent both material -inl-leakage of water to'contaminate the Vlubricant and material out-leakage of liquid from the lubricating system.

To this end, l connect the space 60 just below the periphery of. the rotor 21 through an vin-low check-valve 61 to Ia pipe 62'which has a filter`head 63 in the main water column. The check-valve 61 permits water from the ,main water-stream to flow lin through the pipe 62 intothe space 60. It is a standard check-valve construction, havin a stationary outer shell 64 anda movable inner shell 65 with suitable ports which permit flow of waterupward through the ump 39 if it hadl valve into the space 60 when the inner shell is lifted off its seat, but prevents outflow of water when the inner shell is seated in the I placing periods at the beginning and end of a run.

Because of this balance, which is quickly attained, there is very little in-leakage of water to the lubricating system, and what water does leak in collects in the lower part of the closed reservoir 30, while the oil rises to the top of such closed reservoir and is drawn ofi' through the filter 35 and pipe 36. Further, by making the parts fairly accurate, there is very little out-leakage of lubricant, for there can be no out-flow past the check-valve 61, and the space 60 contains mainly water. Therefore, what out-leakage there is past the packed bearing 23 is mainly water, and is replaced by incoming water through the check-valve 61 to maintain the balance of pressures. Even this out-leakage Ais minimized by theA acking of such bearing 23; and by the closetting annular rings and grooves (shown clearly in Fig. 2) between the lower face of the rotor 21 and the upper face of the bearing 23.

By this balanced system of lubrication, I find that I can operate the pump with a comparatively small quantity of oil, because loss of the oil is prevented both during the operation of the pump and while the pump is at rest.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a deep-well pump, the combination of a shaft extending down into the well, a

rotary pump in the well, a water-discharge ipe extending up from said main pump, a liibricant-pump also located in thewell close above said main pump, both of said pumps having rotors driven from said shaft, a lu-` bricant-supply pipe leading to the intake ot said lubricant-pump, a lubricant-discharge pipe extending upward from the outlet of said lubricant-pump, and a closed reservoir to which the lupper ends of both said lubricant-supply pipe and said lubricant-discharge pipe are connected, said lubricantpump having a check-valved connection to the interior of said water-discharge pipe permitting in-flow from said Water discharge pipe to said lubricant-pump.

2. In a deep-well pump, the combinationof a shaft extending down into the well, a rotary pump in the well, a water-discharge pipe extending up from said main pump, a lubricant-pump also located in the Well, both of said pumps having rotors driven fromA said shaft, a lubricant-supply pipe leading to the intake of said lubricant-pump, a lubri- -cant-discharge pipe extending upward from the outlet of said lubricant-pump, and a Aclosed reservoir to which the upper ends of both said lubricant-supply pipe and said lubricant-discharge pipe are connected, said lubricant-pump having a check-valved connection to the interior of'said water-discharge pipe permitting in-ow from said water discharge pipe to said lubricant-pump.

ends of said lubricant-.supply pipe and said lubricant-discharge p1pe being interconnected to form a closed system, said lubricant-pump having a `check-valve connection below its runner to the interior of `said water-discharge pipe permitting in-flow from said water discharge pipe to saidrlubricant-pump.

4. In a deep-Well pump, the combinationof a shaft extending down into the well, a rotary pump in the well, a `water-discharge pipe extending up from said main pump, a. lubricant-pump also located in the well, both of said pumps having rotors driven from said shaft, a lubricant-supply pipe surrounding said shaft and leading to the intakeof said lubricant-pump, a lubricant-discharge pipe u extending upward from the outlet of said lubricant-pump,p and a closed reservoir to which the upper ends of both said lubricantsupply pipe and said lubricant-discharge pipe are connected, said lubricant-pump having a check-valved connection to the interior of said water-discharge pipe permitting in-ow from said water discharge pipe to said lubricant-pump.

5. In a deep-well pump, the combination of a shaft extending down into the well, a rotary pump in the Well, a Water-discharge pipe extendlng up from said main pump, a lubricant-pump also located in the well, both oi" said pumps having rotors driven from said shaft, a lubricant-supply pipe leading to the intake of said lubricant-pump, a lubricant-discharge pipe extendingl upward from the outlet of said lubricant-pump, the upper ends of said lubricant-supply pipe and said lubricant-discharge pipe being interconnected to form a' close-d system, said lubricant-pump having a check-valved connection to the interior of said Water-discharge pipe permitting in-flow from said water dislil() Cil ' flow from said water-discharge pipe to said lubricant system.

- upper ends of said lubricant-supply 1pipe and said lubricant-discharge pipe are connected, the lubricant system formed by said lubricant-pump and its supply and discharge pipes having a check-Valved connection near the bottom to the 4interior of said water-discharge pipe permitting water in- 7. In a deep-well pump, the combination of a shaft extending down into thev well, a rotary pump in the well, a water-discharge pipe extending up from said mainpump, a lubricant-pump also located in the well, both of said pumps having rotors driven from said shaft, a lubricant-supply pipe leading to the intake of said lubricant-pump, a lubricant-discharge pipe extending upward from the outlet of said lubricant-pump, the P1P@ and said lubricant-discharge pipe being interconnected to. form a closed system, vthe lubricant system -formed by said. lubricant-v pump and its supply and ,discharge pipes having a check-valved connection near the bottom to the interiorof said water-discharge pipe permitting water inflow from said water-discharge pipe to ysaid lubricant system.

8. In a deep-well pump, the combination of a shaft extending "downward into the well, arotary pump in the well,a waterdischarge pipe extending up from said main pump, a lubricant-pump also located inthe well, both of said pumps having rotors driven from said shaft, a lubricant-supply pipe leading to the intakeof said lubricant-v pump, a lubricant-discharge pipe extending upward from the outlet of said lubricantpump, and a closed reservoir to which the upper ends of both said lubricant-supply of a shaft extending down into the well, a

`. rotarypump in the'well, a water-dischargef both of said, pumps-having rotors driven l pipe extending up" from said main pump, a lubricant-pump also located in the well,

from `said shaft, a lubricant-supply pipe leading to the intake of said lubricantpump, a lubricant-discharge pipe extending upward fromA the outlet of said lubricantpump, the upper ends of said .lubricantsuppl pipeand said lubricant-discharge pipe eing interconnected to form a closed system, the lubricant system formed by said mean-i lubricant-pump and its supply and di'scharge pipes having a check-valved connection near the bottom to the interior of said Water-dischargel pipe ermitting water inflow from said water-dEischar'ge pipe to said lubricant system, a lubricant-suppl tank, water-supplying means, and valves or sup- .plying lubricant from said tank or said water-supplying means to said lubricant system at will so that eitherl water or said lubricant ma displace the other.

10. In a `d'e tion of' a shaft extending down into Athe well, a rotary pump in the well, a water discharge pipe extending up from said main pump, a lubricant-pump also located in the well, both of said pumps having rotors driven from said shaft, a lubricant-supply pipe leading'to the intake of said lubricantpump, a lubricant-discharge pipe extending upward from` the outlet of sald lubricantep-well pump, the combina-` pump, `the upper ends of said lubricantsupply pipe and said lubricant-discharge Plpe system, the lubricant system formed b said lubricant-pump and its supply an discharge pipes having a check-valved connec- "tion near the bottom to the interior of said water-discharge 'pipe permitting water in'- tlow from said water-discharge pipe to said lubricant system, a lubricant-suppl water-supplying means, and valves or supplying lubricant from said tank lorsald water-supplying mea-ns to said lubricant system at will so that either water orsaid lubricant may displace the other, said connections and valves including a line for .dis-

charging displaced lubricant back to said lubricant-supply tank.

11. In a deep-well pump, the combination of aishaft extending down into the well, a rotary pump in the well, a waterdischarge pipe extending up'from said main pump, a lubricantump also located in the well, vboth of sai pumps having rotors driven froml said shaft, a lubricant-supply pipe leading to the intake of said lubricantpump, a lubricant-discharge pipe extending upward from the outlet of said lubricantpum the upper ends of said lubricantbeing interconnected to form a closed tank,

supp y pipe and said lubricant-discharge 'plpe being interconnected to form a closed said lubricant-pump having asystem, check-valved connection tothe interior4 of said water-discharge pipe permitting' inflow from said water discharge pipe to said lubricant-pump, a lubricant-supply tank,

water-supplying means, and valves for supplying lubricant `from said tank or said water-supplying means to said lubricant system at' will so that either water or 'said lubricant may displace the other.

- 12. In a deep-wellv pump, the combination ofa shaft extending down into the well, a rotary pump in the well, a water-discharge pipe extending up from said main pump, a lubricant-pump also located in the well, both of said pumps having rotors driven'from said shaft, lubricant-supply pipe leading to the intake of said lubricant pump, a lubricant-discharge pipe extending upward from the outlet of said lubricant-pump, the

- upper ends of said lubricant-supply pipe and said lubricant-discharge pipe being 1nterconnected to form a closed system. said lubricant-pump having a check-valved connection to the interior of said Water-discharge pipe permitting in-floW from said water discharge pipe to said lubricantpump, a lubricant-supply tank, Water supplying means, and valves for supplying lubricant from said tank or said Water-supplying means to said lubricant systeml at will so that either Water or said lubricant may displace the other, said connections and Valves including a line for discharging displaced lubricant back to said lubricantsupply tank.

13. In a deep-Well pump, the combination of a shaft extending down into the well, a rotary pump in the Well, a water-discharge pipe extending up from said main pump, a lubricant-pump also located in the well. both of said pumps having rotors driven from said shaft, a lubricant-supply pipe leading to the intake of said lubricantypump, a lubricant-discharge pipe extending upward from the outlet of said lubricant-pump, the upper ends of said lubricant-supply pipe and said lubricant-discharge pipe being interconnected to form a closed system, the lubricant system formed by said lubricant-pump and its supply and discharge pipes having a check-valved connection near the bottom to the interior of said water-discharge pipe permitting water inow from said Water-discharge pipe to said lubricant system, a lubricant-supply tank, Water-supplying means, valves for supplying lubricant from said tank or said water-supplying means to said lubricant system at will so that either Wateror said lubricant may displace the other, and a ump driven from said shaft for forcing iiibricant to and from said supply tank.

14. In a deep-Well pump, the combination of a shaft extending down into the Well, a rotary pump in the well, a Water discharge pipe extending up from said main pum a lubricant-pump also located in the Well, both of said pumps having rotors driven from said shaft, a lubricant-supply pipe leading to the intake of said lubricant-pump, a lubricant-discharge pipe extending upward from the outlet of said lubricant-pump, the upper ends of said lubricant-supply pipe and said lubricantdischarge pipe being interconnected to form a closed system, the lubricant system formed by said lubricant-pump and its supply and discharge pipes having a checkvalvcd connection near the bottom to the interior of said Water-discharge pipe permitting water intiow from said Water-discharge pipe tosaid lubricant system, a luln'icant-supply tank, water-supplying means, and valves forsupplying lubricant from said tank or saidl water-supplying means to said lubricant 'system at iwill so that either Water or said lubricant may displace the other, said connections and Valves including a line for discharging displaced lubricant back to said lubricant-supply tank, and a pump driven from said shaft for forcing lubricant to and from said supply tank.

15. In a deep-Well pump, the combination of a shaft extending down into .the Well, a z

rotary pump in the well, a water-discharge pipe extending up from said main pump, a lubricant-pump also located in the Well,

both of said pumps having rotors drivenfrom said shaft, a lubricant-supply pipe leading to the intake of said lubricantpump, a lubricant-discharge pipe extending upward from the outlet of said lubricant-pump, a lubricant-supply tank, Watersupplying means` and valves and connections for supplying either lubricant from said tank or Water from said water-supplying means to the lubricating system composed of said lubricant-pump and its supply and discharge pipes, to displace either water or lubricant by the other as desired. v

16. In a deep-well pump, the combination of a shaft extending down into the Well, a rotary pump in the Well, a Water-discharge pipe extending up from said main pump, a lubricant-pump also located in the Well, both of said pumps having rotors driven from said shaft, a lubricant-supply pipe leading to the intake of said lubricant-l pump` a lubricant-discharge pipe extending upward from the outlet of said lubricantpump, a lubricant-supply tank, Water-supplying means, and valves and connections for supplying either lubricant from said tank or Water from said Water-supplyin means to the lubricating system compose of said lubricant-pump and its supply and discharge pipes to displace either water or lubricant by the other as desired, said valves and valves and connections for supplying either lubricant from said tank or Water from said water-supplying means to the p system composed of said lubricant-pump lubricating system composed of said lubricant-pump and its supply and discharge pipes to displace either water or lubricantJ by the other as desired, and a pump driven from said shaft for feeding lubricant from said supply-tank to said lubricant system.

-18. In a deep-well pump, the combination of a shaft extending down into the Well, a rotary pump in the Well, a water-'discharge pipe extending up from said main pump, a lubricant-pump also located. in the Well, both of said pumps having rotors driven from said shaft, a lubricant-supply pipe leading to t e intake of said lubricant-pump, a lubricant-discharge pipe extending upward from the outlet of said llubricant-pump, a lubricant-supply tank, water-supplying means, valves and connections for supplying either lubricant 'from said tank or Water from said Water-supplying means to the lubricating and its supply and discharge pipes to displace either Water or lubricant by the other as desired, said? valves and connections including a lubricant-return pipe discharging into said supplyl tank for supplying the lubricant thereto when the lubricant in the `lubricant system is displaced by water, and a pump driven from said shaft for moving the lubricant when desired from saidrsupply tank to said lubricant system and vice versa as desired.

19. In a deep-well pump, the combination of a shaft extending down into the well, a rotary pump in the Well, a Water-discharge pipe extending u from said main pump, a lubricant-pump so located' in the well, both of said pumps having rotors driven from said shaft, a lubricant-supply pipe leading to the intake of said lubricant-pump, a

` lubricant-discharge pi e extending upward from the outlet of sai lubricant-pump, the upper ends of said' lubricant-sup ly pipe and said lubricant-discharge pipe Eemg interconnected to form a closed system, the lubricant system formed by said lubricantpump and its supply and discharge pipes having a check-valved connection near the bottom to the interior of said water-discharge Pipe permitting water inflow from said Water-discharge pipe to said lubricant system, a lubricant-supply tank, water-supplying means, valves for supplying lubricant from said tank or said water-supplying means to said lubricant system at Wlll so that either water orsaid lubricant may dlsplace the other, and a pump for forcing lubricant 4to and from said supply tank.

mesme 20. ln a deep-Well pump, the combination of a shaft extending down into the Well, a rotary pump in the Well, a Water discharge pipe extending up from said Vmain pump, a lubricant-pump also located in the Well, both of said pumps having rotors driven from, said shaft, a lubricant-supply pipe leading to the intake of said lubricantpump, a lubricant-discharge pipe extending upward from the outlet of said lubricantpump, the upper ends of said lubricant-suply plpe and said lubricant-discharge pipe eing interconnected to form a closed system, the lubricant system formed by said lubricant-pump and its supply and discharge pipes having a check-valve connection nearthe bottom to the interior of said water-discharge pipe permitting Water inflow from said water-discharge pipe to said lubricant s stem, a lubricant-supply tank, water-supp ying means, and valves for supplying lubricant from said tank or sald Water-supplying means to said lubricant system at will so that either water or said lubricant may displace the other, said connections and valves including a line for discharging displaced` lubricant back to said lubricant-supply tank, and a pump for forcing lubricant to and from said supply tank.

21. ln a deep-Well pump, the combination of a shaft extending down into the well, a rotary pump in the well, a water-discharge pipe extending up from said main pump,

a lubricantump also located in the well,l

22. In a deep-Well pump, the combination of a shaft extending down into the Well, a. rotary pump in the well, a water-discharge pipe extending up from said main pump, a lubricant-pump also located in the Well, both of said umps having rotors driven from said sha t, a lubricant-supply pipe leading to the intake of said lubricant-pump, a lubricant dischargepipe extending upward from the outlet of said'lubricant-pump, a lubricant-supply tank, Water-supplying means,

valves and connections for supplying either` lubricant from said tank or Water from said water-supplying means to the lubricating system composed of said lubricant-pump and its supply and discharge pipes to diuplace either Water or lubricant by the other from said supply tank to said lubricant sysas. desired, said valves and connections intem and vice versav as desired. cluding a lubricant-return pipe discharging In Witness whereof, .I have hereunto set 10 into said supply -tank for.' supplying the my hand at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 13th '5 lubricant thereto when the lubricant in the day of February, A. D. one thousand nine lubricant system is displaced by Water, and a hundred and twenty three. pump for moving the lubricant when' desired VICTOR SCHLEYER. 

